Orientation and Mobility

Orientation And Mobility Specialist

Orientation and Mobility (O & M) is that part of the educational process that prepares the student with a visual impairment to travel independently. The O & M specialist travels to the students' assigned school and/or home to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to the student's vision loss. The O & M specialist is prepared to provide service to an array of students including students with low vision and/or multiple impairments.

These services enable the student to travel safely and independently in the home, school and community environments.

Essential Functions and Performance Responsibilities:

• Perform Orientation and Mobility evaluations (new referral/case study evaluations. Include in the report the needs and strengths of the student. Prepares sequential and meaningful instruction geared to the students' assessed needs, IEP goals and objectives, functioning and motivational levels.
• Provide consultation and support services to families, regular and special education teacher, other school personnel, and students' sighted peers.
• Confer regularly with the education team to assist in home and classroom modifications to ensure reinforcement of appropriate O & M skills.
• Instruction is often necessary to occur off-campus, so the need for transportation for this community-based instruction is important.
• Prepare and use equipment and materials, such as tactile maps, models, optical devices, pre-canes, GPS devices and long canes for the development of O&M skills.
• Provide orientation of new buildings and new class schedules to students with visual impairments as needed, including those community settings where students receive instruction.
• Work with the teacher of students with visual impairments to conduct the Functional Vision Assessment as it relates to independent travel.
• Evaluate the student's progress on an on-going basis and keep progress notes on each student.
• Emphasize social integration with peers and provide opportunities for interaction.
• Maintain appropriate records.
• Act as Liaison between community and school.
• Perform other duties as assigned